Playoff Procedures

Southern League playoff procedures

Rule 1.8 -- Division Champions

(a) First Half - Second Half Winners

The club which wins a greater percentage of overall games at the end of the first half of the split season of the adopted schedule shall be declared the first half division winner. The club which wins a greater percentage of overall games from the second half of the split season of the adopted schedule shall be declared the second half division winner.

(b) Ties for Division Winner

In case of a tie for division winner in either the first half or second half, the following tie breaker formula will be followed beginning with the first criteria and if still tied, then moving down to the next criteria:

1. Head-to-head competition in that half
2. Division individual winning percentage in that half
3. Head-to-head average run differential
4. Coin flip by league office

(c) Three-way or More Tie

In case of a three-way or more tie, the following procedure will be followed until all but one team is eliminated:

The first and second half winners in each division shall meet in a best 3 out of 5 series on the day following the determination of both first and second half winners or as otherwise established by the League President. The first half winners shall host the first two games of the series while the second half winners shall host Game 3 and Games 4 and 5, if necessary. Unless otherwise agreed to by the participating clubs and League President, a team winning both halves of the split season shall play the first two games of the division play-offs in its home park, the third game in the park of the runner-up club, and the remaining two games, if necessary, in its home park. The runner-up club, which shall be the opponent if a club wins both halves, shall be defined as the divisional club with the second best overall record for the entire season. For each divisional play-off game, the home club, at the conclusion of each home series, shall submit to the League Office a report form giving a full statement of attendance for all play-off games.

In case of rain, the games shall be played the day following the scheduled game date. Winners of the division play-offs shall be declared division champions.

All the above-mentioned divisional play-off games shall be scheduled for nine innings, shall not count in the official standings, and individual records of these games shall not be included in the official statistics of the League.

Rule 1.9 - League Champions

The division champions shall compete in a best 3 out of 5 Championship Series, the winner of which shall be declared League champion. The North division champion will host the first two games in even years, the South division champion in odd years, with the next three games, if necessary, to be played on the home ground of the other division winner unless otherwise mutually agreed to by the competing clubs and the League President. In case of a conflict, sites of the games shall be decided by mutual consent of the competing clubs, with approval of the League President.